Bridgewater dental practice collecting holiday gifts for homeless

BRIDGEWATER — Dr. Drew Fairweather and his Better Image Dentistry team are collecting clothing, toys and personal care items as gifts for residents of Agape House in downtown Somerville.

Agape House offers emergency shelter, temporary housing and other services to homeless men, women and children, and is operated by Volunteers of America Delaware Valley.

During the months of November and December, visitors to the Better Image offices at Somerset Medical Commons in Bridgewater — 201 Union Ave., Building 2, Suite A-1 — will have an opportunity to participate in the effort.

“Better Image Dentistry helped make the holidays much, much brighter for Agape House residents in past years and this year promises to be even bigger,” said James Wynn, development director of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley.

“Last year we needed several cars to transport the clothing, toys and other gifts from our office to Agape House,” Fairweather said. “The team enjoyed participating in the gift collection, but it was not until the following January that we fully appreciated the meaning of what everyone had contributed. A young mother expressed her feelings about the gifts that her children received in a note that said, “thank you for giving my children a Christmas.”

According to Fairweather, a Christmas tree will be covered with hand-decorated ornaments in the reception area of Better Image Dentistry. People who want to participate in the program can take an ornament or two, purchase what’s on the tag and return the gifts to the office. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; or call 908-722-7901 to speak to any team member.